In the UK, expansion of free-to-air HD let alone UHD TV has stalled. But in Spain, plans have been made to make free-to-air TV universally available in 4K UHD via an aerial.
- Draft Royal Decree published outlining plan to upgrade the country’s digital terrestrial TV platform.
- All broadcasters will switch to DVB-T2 HEVC, enabling channels to upgrade to Ultra HD broadcasts
- Most smart TVs sold within last decade support the new technology.
Spain is taking a step forward to futureproof its digital terrestrial television (DTT) network, despite the rise in online services.
Its ‘TDT’ service, which is the equivalent of Freeview in the UK and Saorview in the Republic of Ireland, will migrate entitely to the newer DVB-T2 standard, with a view to upgrading more services to 4K UHD.
Earlier this year, Spain’s public service broadcaster RTVE launched a full UHD copy of its main channel La1 to viewers across the country. Standard definition channels were closed. However, apart from a 4K test multiplex, all multiplexes still use the older DVB-T standard, even for UHD.
A Royal Decree published by the Spanish Government confirms the proposed adoption of DVB-T2 together with HEVC for video encoding. The switch means viewers can look forward to improved picture and sound quality, plus a more robust signal in weak signal areas.
More 4K UHD channels
This paves the way for more broadcasters to upgrade services to 4K UHD. During a transition period, broadcasters will simulcast some channels in HD and UHD. However, this won’t be needed in the longer term, post-transition, as all compatible devices will be able receive UHD channels, rendering HD simulcasts as unnecessary.
For channels not broadcast in UHD, an HD version will be available.
The Spanish Government expects the changes will mean a more efficient use of the spectrum and no reduction in the number of channels on offer through an aerial in Spain.
The downside
However, viewers will have to retune their TVs when the changes take place, which is proposed to take place in two stages. And older TVs and boxes will become obsolete. However, the vast majority of TVs that have been on sale in the past decade not just in Spain but across Europe support the combination of DVB-T2 and HEVC.
Comparison with other countries
France has also launched a regular UHD service via DTT. Countries including Germany, Czech Repuplic, Poland and the Netherlands have switched to DVB-T2 / HEVC. Italy is transitioning.
Public broadcasters in the UK seem less bothered. While some European public broadcasters are rolling out enhanced DTT services and investing in streaming, UK broadcasters are broadly investing in streaming services and platforms only. Even rollout of HD services on Freeview has stalled, with no plans to increase the number of HD channels received through an aerial, in stark contrast to most countries with a highly developed terrestrial TV service. No major UK free-to-air broadcaster offers a full-time 4K UHD channel.
European DTT platform operators note the medium’s unique role of providing universal access to basic TV channels without requiring a third party gatekeeper (i.e. an internet service provider or mobile network) to access main channels. Integration with HbbTV 2.0 complements existing terrestrial channels with streaming services.
A timeline for the changes in Spain is expected to be published next year.
RXTV comment
Marc Thornham
From a UK perspective, where broadcasters seem eager to shut down existing linear digital terrestrial TV broadcasts because of cost, decisions made elsewhere in the world seem baffling, afterall streaming is growing everywhere is it not?
Ultimately, while many current TV channels may no longer be viable in the coming years, there will always be a core of main TV channels. These will provide universal coverage of news, current affairs, cultural and sporting events alongside locally produced shows that US streamers don’t do well. And in parts of Europe decisions are being made that these core channels – typically the main public service channels and the biggest commercial channels – should continue to be available universally through an aerial and in the best picture quality. As many of these channels will be viewed on smart TVs, the terrestrial TV service will be always be complementary to streaming apps, but not beholden to major telecoms companies, US media giants and pay TV companies acting as gatekeepers to public service media.
A future transition or addition of 5G Broadcast, also being proposed across European countries, provides another gatekeeper-free method of reaching viewers across a wider range of devices.
image: TV transmitter tower TdC Barcelona / Freepik (licenced)